Distributor unit for ignition systems of internal-combustion engines



S. I. FEKETE July 1, 1930.

DISTRIBUTOR UNIT FOR-IGNITION SYSTEMS OF INTERNAL COMBUSTIQN ENGINES Filed Jan. 23 1924 mm 6 a; m M a J /7 v I M w w 4/ E m I 1| w u H T w Y 7 m 7 W 2 Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN I. FEKETE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HUDSON MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN DISTRIBUTOR UNIT FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Application filed January 23, 1924. Serial No. 688,074.

My present invention relates to distributor units for the ignition systems of internal combustion engines of the type known as bat- N tery ignitions. The particular object of the invention is to provide a simple structure which can be manufactured more economically and which will be more satisfactory to the user, particularly on account of greater accessibility for adjustment and repair.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, one ty e of battery ignition has been provided wit a distributor unit in which are combined the interrupter, condenser, fixed points of the distributor, a rotating shaft carrying the movable member or rotor of a distributor,

and a centrifu al governor which automati cally controls t 1e spark advance.

In one particular form of these ignition systems the interrupter points and condenser 20 have been carried in a cup located inside the casing and removable as a unit for adjustment, repair, or replacement. Thls construction has many advantages but is expenslve to manufacture because of the kidney-shaped 25 condenser and was diflicult to repair or adjust particularly in the absence of special tools.

My present invention, therefore, has for its object to provide a distributor unit having the advantages of the form alread described 2370 but which can be manufactured c eaply and can be readily repaired and adjusted without the use of special tools.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description when taken in 35 connection with the accompanying drawings,

and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section partly in elevation of a distributor unit embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the plate 20 and attached parts.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the plate 20 and attached parts shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is a top plan view of the plate 20 and attached parts.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5, Fig. 4.

F ig. 6 is a section taken on line 66,Fig. 5.

14 the interrupter cam, and at 15 the rotor or a movable arm of the distributor. The dis tributor casing is composed preferably of a casing proper 16 preferably made of metal and a cover 17 formed of molded insulating material, as, for instance, bakelite and containing the several fixed contacts 18. The two parts of the distributor casing are held together by spring clasps 19. As these parts are of well known construction, they will not be described in further detail.

Clamped between the casing 16 and cover 17 is a plate 20 which supports the condenser 21 and interrupter points 22 and 23. The parts supported by the plate 20 are located on its underside and hang down into the casing 16 above the governor 12. In practice, the plate is made of a diameter slightly greater than the interior diameter of the distributor casing 16 so that it will rest on the upper edge of the casing. At three or more points around the edge of the plate tongues 24. are struck out and bent downwardly so that they will just fit inside the casing and thus serve to position and centre the plate with respect to the axis of rotation of the shaft. Accurate centering of the plate is important because any change in its position will afiect the amount of the gap between the interrupter points 22, 23 and consequently the intensity of the discharge through the high tension circuit. The tongues just described centre the plate accurately and hold it securely in position under all conditions of operation.

At one side of the plate and on the under face thereof is secured an arm 25 having on its outer end a binding screw 26 for connection to one side of an induction coil. The arm 25 is insulated from the plate 20 by a thin sheet 27 of suitable material such as bakelite or mica. The inner end of the arm is branched, as shown at a and b and secured by rivets 28, 28 to the plate 20. It is also provided with a downwardly turned tongue 29 against which rests one end of the sprin 30 which closes the interrupter points an furnishes an electrical connection between the arm and the movable interrupter arm 9. This arm 9 is pivoted to a stud 31 which also depends from the under side of the plate 20, said arm and stud being insulated from one another by the usual fibre or other bushing 310. The pivoted arm or rries the usual fibre wear-in iilGliiilSl or contact with the cam I 1. also the contact oint 92 ot' platinum, n or other suitable material. The lined con act point 23 is on the end of a screw 3i sup-unwed in an arm or lug 35 which forms late 20 and bent down into 1 act points 22 and member an i n operating posii 1 to cnecl-r the the upper 3 to secure the '1' ill DidCS.

Yhich is form C in one piece with l notched as 'lowu at n asseinbn 1g the p e l down through i J-l inc co ndenser securing the e in place. nection betw en the condenser able interrupter contact is provided by means of a tin-n piece of suitable sh metal 4-2.

As has already been pointed out all the parts carried by the plate are bel 1w its bottom surface so that when the plate is taken out and turned b ttom side up they are exposed to .iew and are in a convenient position tor ad ius; rent. The are not su rounded by an other parts or by a rim or flange and therefore are eadily accessible and visl u thermore, when the plate is in po with the we: ring member against the cam. it also possible to examine the interrnd cheer; the size of the gap rat the points are correctly to make sure tl adjusted. Th 1 plate 20 is a stam iing and not d awn or shaped, therefore the expense o'l maiurfacture oi this part is largely reduced over that of mal'ing a cup which must be drawn to be accurate in SlfLO so that it will be centered properly in the casing. Furthermore the condenser can be made of the shape shown which is relatively inexpensive as compared with the kidney shaped condensers heretofore con'nnonly employed. Altogether the dwices embodying my invention reduce materially th expense oi the d tributor unit while at the same time increasing its success and reliability.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. The combination with av casing and a cover, of a plate supporting a condenser and interrupter points, said plate resting on the upper edge of the casing and being provided with tongues struck from the edge of the plate and ext nding down inside the casing to position the plate with relation thereto.

The combination of a casing a cover, a removable plate between the :asing and the cover, a condenser and interrupter points, the said condenser and interrupter points being supported on the under side of said plate.

he combination of a casing, a cover, a plate, a condenser and interrupter points the plate bc interposed between the casing d the co and having an arm secured to combination of a casing, a cover, a plate oetween, the casing and the cover. a condo i nand interrupter points, said condenser and interrupter points being supported on the mid" vfile of said plate within the casing, and said plate having an opening through which said i terrupter points are accessible from the top.

(5. The combination of a using, a cover, a olate. a condenser, and interrupter points, l plate resting at its edge on the upper e of the ca 1g and being provided with irrct tongues sirucl; from its edge and extending down inszdc the ca ing to position the plate with relation thereto. and said condenser and interrupter points being supported on the underside of said plate within the casing.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

STEPHEN I. FEKETF. 

